Ferdinand bourquin



(No Model.)

I. BOURQUIN.

STOP WATCH.-

Patented Aug..25, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

FERDINAND BOURQUIN, OF ST. IMIER, SYVITZERLAND.

STOP-WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,348, dated August25, 1891.

Application filed March 10, 1891. Serial No. 384,397. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND BOURQUIN, watch-manufacturer, of St.Imier,Switzerland, have invented an Improved Stop-IVatcl1, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The improved stopwatch mechanism of the present invention ischaracterized by the peculiar shape and arrangement of the levers andthe hand-actuating mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the dial. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the movement as it is to be seen at the side opposite thedial when the watch-case is open. Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of thestopwatch levers as they are seen when the dial is removed. In Fig. 3the parts are represented as if hands are in motion, and in Fig. 4 as ifstopped and ready to be set at zero.

In all the figures the same letters refer to the same pieces.

The motor of the stop-watch is composed of a mainspring-barrel A, havingits axis A provided with a gear-wheel B, which may be revolved by meansof the wheels E, D, and 0, when the stem F is turned from left to right.A suitable click T with spring 2, engaging the teeth of said wheel B,prevents the back rotation of the axis A of the mainspring. The wheel Dispivoted to the bridge G by means of a disk h, which is, moreover, thefulcrum of the oscillating bridge II, bearing the wheel C. A spring hcauses the wheel 0 to remain in gear with wheel 13, but allowing thesame to be lifted out of gear when the stem F is turned to the left, asthe wheel B cannot be turned in a direction opposite to that indicatedby an arrow in Fig. 2. If such left rotation of the stem takes place,then the wheel 0 jumps from tooth to tooth in and out of gear with thewheel B, the latter being motionless. The stem F is adapted to slideaxially with its squared portion in a square hole of the crown-wheel orpinion E. The gear-wheeltof the spring-barrel A acts upon the pinion ofa wheel M, the axis M of which bears a heart-piece 'm to which isaffixed the minutes-hand m. The said wheel M gears with the pinion of athird wheel J, having its axis in the center of the movement, and saidaxis carries a heart-piece f, to which is atfixed the seconds-hand j.The wheel .I is in gear with the escapement-wheel K.

L is the balance-wheel, whichis alternately free to oscillate or stoppedby means of a fine spring I, bearing against the circumference of thebalance-wheel L when the latter is to be stopped, as will be shownbelow. The heartpieces j and ni are not affixed to their respectiveaxes. They are provided with suitable frietion-springs upon thoseheart-pieces and bearing against the axes of the wheels J and M,respectively.

N is the usual cam with brake-spring n. Said cam is turned one tooth ateach depression of a lever O, which has a projection 0, upon which theend of the stem Fbears, and is acted upon by a spring P, which lifts thesame after each depression of the stem F and also moves the leverlaterally against a guiding-screw p.

R is the stopping-lever bearing the fine spring Z mentioned above andhaving its fulcru 1n atr. The springrcauses the point Rof lever B tobear against the cam N, and according to the position of the latter thefine spring Z is moved from the balance L when the point B passes into anotch of the cam N, Fig. 3, or the said spring is pressed against thebalance L when the point B is lifted by an elevated portion of the camN, Fig. 4.

S is a hammer-lever, the points 8 and s of which act upon theheart-pieces j andm respectively. The projection s of said lever S ispressed by means of a spring 8 upon the cam IT, and when said projection3 fallsinto a notch of the cam N the lever S falls toward theheart-pieces X and m and thereby causes the hands j and m to be set tozero.

It the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the hands are inmotion. Now if one depresses the stem F the lever 0 will cause the cam Ito be turned one tooth and to take the position shown in Fig. 4-. Thepoint B of lever R has been lifted and the hair-spring Z pressed towardthe circumference of the balance L. Hence the watch is stopped. Theposition of the lever S has not been changed by this function. Now ifone depresses the stem F again the lever 0 causes the cam N to be turnedone tooth, and then the point 3* of the lever S falls into a notch ofthe cam N, and the points 3 and 5 act simultaneously upon theheart-piecesj and m Thereby the lever R remains in its foregoingposition until a new depression of hair-spring; Z, operated by the cam Nto enthe stem F causes the point B to fall again gage and stop thebalance-wheel, substaninto a notch of the cam N, causing the handstially as and for the purposes set forth.

to move by throwing the hair-spring I out of In testimony whereof I havesigned my 15 5 reach of the balance L. name to this specification in thepresence of I claim as my inventiontwo subscribing witnesses.

The combination, in astop-watch, with the 1 T arbors, hands, and theactuating mechanism, FERDINAND LOURQUD" of the push-stein F, thepawl-lever O, actuated Witnesses:

to thereby, and its spring P, the toothed cam N, F. CHAPNY,

operated by the lever O, the lever B, and its E. HIRSEHY.

